Knife sharpener

ABSTRACT

A knife sharpener may include an attachment unit, a metallic shell, a sharpener unit and a cover. The attachment unit comprises a base having a pad-sucker controlled by an operating handle. An extending base is connected at one end of the base and a space comprising a recessed portion is formed therein. A notch is formed on a top of the extending base for penetration. The sharpener unit comprises two fixing blocks, and each fixing block has a receiving portion for disposing with a first sharpening blade and a second sharpening blade respectively. The sharpener unit can provide both rough grinding and fine grinding by the difference of materials and formations of the first sharpening blade and the second sharpening blade.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a knife sharpener, and more particularly to a knife sharpener that provides both rough grinding and fine grinding.

BACK GROUND OF THE INVENTION

After a long period of use, the cutting tools become blunt, and a knife sharpener is required to make tools sharpened. Conventionally, a blade of knife is sharpened by a grindstone, which is too bulky and heavy, and difficult be stored. Therefore, there are many knife sharpeners comprising a base with a small grindstone on the market.

However, conventional knife sharpener is disadvantageous because: in the sharpening process, the users need to hold the base of knife sharpener by one hand that increasing the risk of injury. Therefore, there remains a need for a new and improved knife sharpener to overcome the problems presented above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an enhanced knife sharpener, which comprises an attachment unit, a metallic shell, a sharpener unit and a cover. The attachment unit comprises a base having a pad-sucker controlled by an operating handle. The pad-sucker is functional by using a stem penetrating a hole located in a central portion of the base and pivotally connecting with the operating handle which is moved on a groove located on the base. By pulling the operating handle, the pad-sucker is pressed against the base by the stem, so the knife sharpener is fixed on a flat surface due to pressure difference between the atmosphere outside the pad-sucker and a cavity in the pad-sucker. Also, a spring is formed between the base and the pad-sucker. An extending base is connected at one end of the base and an inside thereof has a space comprising a recessed portion. A notch is formed on a top of the extending base for penetration. The sharpener unit comprises two fixing blocks, and each fixing block has a receiving portion for disposing with a first sharpening blade and a second sharpening blade respectively. With the design of sharpening slots connecting with the receiving portion, the first sharpening blade and the second sharpening blade, which are V-shaped, can be appropriately extended from the sharpening slots. The sharpener unit can provide both rough grinding and fine grinding by the difference of materials and formations of the first sharpening blade and the second sharpening blade. The metallic shell is disposed into the space of the extending base after the sharpener unit for securing the metallic shell between the extending base and the sharpener unit, and is selectively covered on a top of the fixing block to avoid the sharpening slots portion. A connecting rod formed on the cover is connected with the recessed portion of the extending base to secure the cover on a bottom of the extending base, and a bottom of the space is closed to provide a support for the sharpener unit.

Comparing with conventional knife sharpener, the present invention is advantageous because: (i) when in use, the knife sharpener can be fixed on a flat surface by the attachment unit, so the user do not need to hold the knife sharpener by hand that decreasing the risk of cutting hands; (ii) the present invention of knife sharpener can provide both the rough grinding and the fine grinding; and (iii) with the design of the metallic cover, the top of the fixing block will not be damaged in the sharpening process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view of the knife sharpener in the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional, exploded view of the knife sharpener in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the knife sharpener in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plane view of the knife sharpener in the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the knife sharpener in present invention when in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of the presently exemplary device provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be prepared or utilized. It is to be understood, rather, that the same or equivalent functions and components may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods, devices and materials similar or equivalent to those described can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the exemplary methods, devices and materials are now described.

All publications mentioned are incorporated by reference for the purpose of describing and disclosing, for example, the designs and methodologies that are described in the publications that might be used in connection with the presently described invention. The publications listed or discussed above, below and throughout the text are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the inventors are not entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention.

In order to further understand the goal, characteristics and effect of the present invention, a number of embodiments along with the drawings are illustrated as following:

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the present invention provides a knife sharpener, which comprises an attachment unit (10), a metallic shell (20), a sharpening unit (30) and a cover (40). The attachment unit (10) comprises a base (11) having a pad-sucker (13) controlled by an operating handle (12). The pad-sucker (13) is operated by using a stem (131) penetrating a hole located at a central portion of the base (11) and pivotally connecting with the operating handle (12) which is moved in a groove (111) located on the base (11). Through an eccentric movement of the operating handle to dispose against the base (11), the pad-sucker (13) can be pulled out and a vacuum suction force is generated therein. Also, a spring (not shown) is formed between the base (11) and the pad-sucker (13). An extending base (112) is connected at one side of the base (11) and a space (113) is formed therein. The space (113) comprises a recessed portion (114), and a notch (115) is formed on a top portion of the extending base (112) for penetration. The sharpening unit (30) comprises two fixing blocks (31), and each fixing block (31) has a receiving portion (311) to secure a first sharpening blade (32) and a second sharpening blade (33) respectively. With the design of the sharpening slots (312) connecting with the receiving portion (311), the V-shaped first sharpening blade (32) and the second sharpening blade (33) can appropriately extend from the sharpening slots (312). The sharpener unit (30) can provide both rough grinding and fine grinding by using different materials and formations of the first sharpening blade (32) and the second sharpening blade (33). The metallic shell (20) is disposed into the space (113) of the extending base (112) before the sharpener unit (30) for securing the metallic shell (20) between the extending base (112) and the sharpener unit (30), and the metallic shell (20) covers a top portion of the fixing block (31) to avoid the sharpening slots (312) portion. A connecting rod (41) formed on the cover (40) is connected with the recessed portion (114) of the extending base (112) to secure the cover (40) on a bottom of the extending base (112), and a bottom of the space (113) is closed to provide a support for the sharpener unit (30).

In one embodiment, the recessed portion (114) and the connecting rod (41) are connected with each other as a nut and a screw.

In another embodiment, the recessed portion (114) and the connecting rod (41) are connected with each other as a fastening hole and a fastening block.

In still another embodiment, the first sharpening blade (32) is made of tungsten steel and is used for rough grinding.

In a further embodiment, the second sharpening blade (33) is made of ceramic and is used for fine grinding.

In still a further embodiment, an anti-slipping mat is mounted on a bottom of the cover (40).

Referring to FIG. 5, in actually application, the operating handle (12) is eccentrically operated against the base (11) to pull out the pad-sucker (13) to generate a vacuum suction therein, so the knife sharpener can be fixed on a flat surface due to the pressure difference. In sharpening process, the blunt blade (60) is disposed into the sharpening slot (312) from the notch (115), and is sharpened by the first sharpening blade (32) and the second sharpening blade (33) to achieve the rough grinding and the fine grinding. Also, because of the design of the metallic cover (20), the top of the fixing block (31) will not be damaged during the sharpening process.

Comparing with conventional knife sharpener, the present invention is advantageous because: (i) when in use, the knife sharpener can be fixed on a flat surface by the attachment unit (10), so the user do not need to hold the knife sharpener by hand that decreasing the risk of cutting hands; (ii) the present invention of knife sharpener can provide both the rough grinding and the fine grinding; and (iii) with the design of the metallic cover (20), the top of the fixing block (31) will not be damaged in the sharpening process.

Having described the invention by the description and illustrations above, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the invention and are not to be considered as limiting. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as limited by the foregoing description, but includes any equivalents. 

1. A knife sharpener comprising: an attachment unit having a base with a pad-sucker controlled by an operating handle, said pad-sucker operated by a stem penetrating a hole located at a central portion of the base and pivotally connecting with the operating handle which is moved in a groove located on the base; the operating handle eccentrically disposed against the base to pull out the pad-sucker to generate a vacuum suction force, wherein a spring is formed between the base and the pad-sucker; an extending base is connected at one end of the base; a space comprising a recessed portion is formed inside the extending base; and a notch formed on a top of the extending base for penetration; a sharpener unit comprising two fixing blocks, wherein each fixing block has a receiving portion for receiving a first sharpening blade and a second sharpening blade respectively, and the first sharpening blade and the second sharpening blade are disposed in a V-shaped manner and extending from sharpening slots, wherein said sharpener unit is configured to provide both rough grinding and fine grinding through difference materials used in the first sharpening blade and the second sharpening blade; and a curved metallic shell with a plurality of curved opening aligned with the sharpening slots is disposed into the space of the extending base before the sharpener unit to cover the space and protect the sharpener unit; and a cover having a connecting rod thereon to connect with the recessed portion of the extending base to secure the cover on a bottom of the extending base, and a bottom of the space is closed to provide a support for the sharpener unit.
 2. The knife sharpener of claim 1, wherein the recessed portion and the connecting rod are connected with each other as a nut and a screw.
 3. The knife sharpener of claim 1, wherein the recessed portion and the connecting rod are connected with each other as a fastening hole and a fastening block.
 4. The knife sharpener of claim 1, wherein the first sharpening blade is made of tungsten steel.
 5. The knife sharpener of claim 1, wherein the second sharpening blade is made of ceramic.
 6. The knife sharpener of claim 1, wherein an anti-slipping mat is mounted on a bottom of the cover. 